By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos courtesy of Chris Busch
MEDINA – Contractors started last week installing steel for the new 62,000-square-foot vegetable processing facility for Pride Pak. The building is taking shape on Route 31A (Maple Ridge Road) across from Genesee Community College.
Pride Pak has been eyeing a June opening for the facility that will have 85-100 employees in phase one of the project. Pride Pak expects it will expand from the 62,000-square-foot building in the future and employ 200 people.
These photos were taken today by Medina resident Chris Busch.
Here is a rendering of how the building will look when it is completed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 February 2016 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – The Village Board was asked to pursue a federal grant that would pay the salaries for new full-time firefighters for the fire department.
The department currently has 14 full-time staff that respond to about 3,000 calls a year, with about 85 percent of the calls for ambulance services.
Medina has been providing the full-time ambulance service for western Orleans County for about a decade. Jonathan Higgins, a captain with the Fire Department, and other department leaders have pressed the Village Board in recent years to boost staffing for the department.
Higgins referred to a study of the MFD that recommended 17 full-time staff for a department handling 1,700 calls. Medina is responding to more far more than 1,700 calls with a small staff, he told the board on Monday.
The federal Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response grant would pay for additional staff, covering training, salaries and benefits for two years. Higgins urged the board to request three new firefighters in the grant.
Mayor Andrew Meier said he doesn’t think the grant provides a sustainable solution for staffing and funding the department. He doesn’t want the village to be in a position two years after the grant where several people could lose their jobs.
“It’s not a good long-term plan,” Meier said during Monday’s Village Board meeting.
Higgins said added staff would reduce overtime costs and “firefighter fatigue.”
The board last year voted to pursue the grant for two positions, but wasn’t successful with the application. The board needs to decide next month how many positions it wants to pursue in the grant.
Higgins said a grantwriter will put together the application for $500.
The board acted on a different matter for the Fire Department on Monday. It approved spending up to $14,765 for a new hydraulic stretcher with batteries for an ambulance. That stretcher is helpful for moving larger patients over 300 pounds. The new stretcher from Stryker will replace one that is 12 years old.
File photo by Tom Rivers – Congressman Chris Collins, right, visits with Captain Jonathan Higgins at the Medina Fire Department on May 8. The Fire Department was approved last year for a federal grant for $77,837 to purchase new fire hoses, nozzles and a thermal imaging camera.
MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department responded to 2,834 requests for service in 2015 with 2,558 of those for ambulance service, and the other 276 for fire or fire-related calls.
The average response time from call dispatched to arrival on scene for all calls inside the Village of Medina was 2 minutes, 45 seconds, said Steve Cooley, a firefighter/paramedic for the MFD and the department’s public information officer.
The total call volume is just below the 2,986 in 2014, the most calls ever for the Fire Department. In 2013, the previous high, the total calls were 2,755. That makes 2015 the second-most ever for the Medina Fire Department.
In 2015, the busiest months for calls were March (269) and July (263).
Several firefighters completed training programs last year, Cooley said. Two firefighters (Young and Wolck) completed Fire Instructor II School. Two firefighters (Lang and Jackson) completed Paramedic School, and two firefighters (A. Wengrzycki and Parker) completed their EMT Basic. Three firefighters (Herriven, Jenkinson and Lang) also graduated from the NYS Fire Academy Recruit Program.
Firefighter Young was chosen by the village to be the Municipal Training Officer. Young overhauled the department’s training program for both career and callman firefighters.
Cooley, in the departments annual report, said each career firefighter must complete at least 100 hours of fire training on top of the required EMS continuing education hours. Each callman firefighter also has an annual amount of required training that must be completed. Total training hours logged by all firefighters in 2015 was 4,187.
Firefighters participated in 60 hours of Community Education/Fire Prevention this year. All classes at both Head Start School and Oak Orchard Elementary School received a Safety/Fire Prevention Seminar.
The Fire Department also received a $77,837 grant from the Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant to purchase new hose lines (supply and attack), new nozzles as well as a new thermal imaging camera.
“This past year we also witnessed the retirement longtime Fire Chief Todd Zinkievich. Chief Zinkievich selflessly served the department, the village and all of Orleans County faithfully for 21 years here as a firefighter,” Cooley said. “We wish Todd a very happy and prosperous retirement!”
Cooley said the new year has been busy with calls and training for Medina firefighters.
“It is our pleasure to serve you,” he said in a message to the community. “Rest assured, if you require our services you will receive highly trained firefighters, EMTs and paramedics in an expeditious manner.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Chris Carr, 7-time national grand champion, attends Crusaders Motorcycle Club annual banquet
Photos by Tom Rivers – Chris Carr, a famed motorcycle racer, addresses about 200 people on Saturday during the annual meeting for the Crusaders Motorcycle Club.
Chris Carr addresses the motorcycle group at the Elks’ Club in Albion. After his presentation, trophies were handed out to the top riders for the 2015 season.
Chris Carr shares life lessons and highlights from his career. He was given a standing ovation by the Crusaders Motorcycle Club.
Jeremy Higgins accepts the award for rider of the year for 2015.
Evan Van Ameron is congratulated by Chris Carr for being the top driver in the 125cc class.
Kyle Tambe won the 250 Amateur division and also was awarded the Chris Miller Award for the driver that shows the most potential to go pro.
ALBION – Before he was a seven-time grand national champion, Chris Carr developed his skills on amateur flat tracks in Northern California.
Carr, 48, was a dominant rider in the American Motorcycle Association, and was inducted in the AMA Hall of Fame. He attracted major corporate sponsorship and set the record for fastest speed on a motorcycle at 350.884 miles per hour.
But it started at tracks similar to the one on Culvert Road in Medina. The Crusaders Motorcycle Club runs that track, and has raced there every year since 1957.
“That is to be admired for you guys keeping it going for so long,” Carr told about 200 people at the annual meeting for the club on Saturday night.
Carr remains a star among dirt track riders. The Crusaders handed out trophies and awards on Saturday for kids and adult riders. They all had their picture taken with Carr.
The Hall of Fame rider was invited to the banquet on Saturday by Dave and Rhonda Waters, long-time members of the Crusaders. Carr, who now works as commentator, said there has been a “rebirth” in flat track racing at the amateur and pro level. (The Crusaders have about 150 riders during their Sunday races.)
Carr first started racing as a 6-year-old. He lost more than he won as an amateur and as a professional.
“It’s OK to fall and crash,” Carr told the group. “But get yourself back up and finish the race.”
The drive to complete the course may be the most important quality a rider can have, which will benefit the racers in other facets of their lives, Carr said.
Riders need to show respect for other competitors and not put others at unnecessary risk, he said. Carr has been in 28 races in his career where another rider died, including the first time when he was 8 and as 12-year-old was killed in the same race.
“Have respect for each other,” Carr said. “That is someone’s son or daughter.”
Carr said he enjoyed the thrill of competition in racing more than he did playing baseball and basketball as a kid. He is grateful he made a career out of racing, with sponsors and many victories.
He said it is a difficult career to race as a professional and win enough to make money, and have corporate support.
“You’re not a pro unless you are making money at it,” Carr said. “A pro is a guy with more money in his banking account at the end of the year than when he started.”
Some of the youth riders are pictured with their trophies.
The Crusaders recognize the top riders at the local track for 2015, including Jeremy Higgins of Bergen, who was the track champion.
The top three riders in each division include:
50cc shaft: Brody Hazel, first; Braydon Blair, second; and Madison Davis, third.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Marcy Downey performed several popular songs from the 1950s and 1960s during a concert Friday at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, including Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis Presley.
Downey of Albion performed for the first time in the Medina library’s “Finally Fridays” concert series, which is in its 15th season. The series started on Jan. 8 and includes concerts at 7 p.m. on Fridays.
About 200 people attended Downey’s concert. Upcoming performers include Emerald Isle (Celtic music) on Feb. 26, The John Cole Blues Band (blues, shuffle, swing and soul) on March 4, and the Dady Brothers (Irish music) on March 18.
One concert-goer takes a video of Downey singing.
A crowd packed the library, which includes a performance area that is used during story hours as well as the concerts.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 February 2016 at 8:20 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Firefighters put out a fire in an abandoned building along the railroad tracks and behind the Olde Pickle Factory in Medina this evening.
The former boiler house is believed to have been used for a former greenhouse operation, White Brothers Rose, next door.
Firefighters were dispatched at 6:07 p.m. with reports of smoke and fire coming out of the building.
Medina and Shelby firefighters responded, along with the Orleans County Emergency Management Office.
The interior of the building included lots of graffiti. Two fires needed to be put out. Jonathan Higgins, a captain for the Medina Fire Department, said investigators are looking for the cause of the fire, but he said they appear “suspicious.” The building didn’t have working electricity or natural gas.
It was difficult to get fire trucks close to the building. Medina firefighter Steve Cooley used a plow on a pickup truck to clear a lane in an alleyway.
Firefighters carry hoses and equipment through the snow to reach the building.
Smoke comes out of the building after the fires were put out inside.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 February 2016 at 12:00 am
James Tuk, John Belson vie for Lyndonville mayor
The slate of candidates is set for village elections next month in Orleans County.
Lyndonville has the only contest featuring a race for mayor with James Tuk and John Belson running for the village’s top elected official. Tuk is the current deputy mayor and has been leading the village since Steve McAvoy resigned as mayor on Oct. 31 due to the demands of his full-time job.
Belson lost a close re-election for Yates town supervisor in November to Jim Simon. Belson wants to continue in public service. He is running under the Lyndonville Party while Tuk picked “The Lake Party.” The mayor’s post is a four-year term.
Three people are running for two seats on the Village Board, including incumbents Ellen Tuohey (Independent Party) and Danny Woodward (Peoples Party). Andrew Cousins (Sustainable Futures) also is running for village trustee.
The election will be on March 15 with voting from noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Hall.
In Medina, Michael Sidari, a current village trustee, is the only candidate for a two-year term as mayor. Sidari is running under The Village Party, along with incumbent Marguerite Sherman and Tim Elliott, who are seeking two-year terms on the Village Board. Current Mayor Andrew Meier isn’t seeking re-election.
Voting in Medina is from noon to 9 p.m. at the Senior Center.
In Lyndonville and Medina, candidates run under independent parties without the official backing of either Republicans or Democrats.
In Albion, the Republican and Democratic parties still hold caucuses to pick candidates. Albion has two four-year seats open on the Village Board. The Republican Party is backing incumbent Gary Katsanis, and Democrats are backing Mattea Navarra-Molisani and incumbent Peter Sidari.
Voting is from noon to 9 p.m. on March 15 at the Village Hall.
Provided photos
MEDINA – Bob Kwandrans, Jr., owner and instructor of Kwandrans Tae Kwon-do in Medina, presents a check for $10, 981.17 to Laura Nutty, Western New York representative for Make-A-Wish. Debby Farfaglia, manager and instructor at Kwandrans, also presents the check to Make-A-Wish. They are pictured last Saturday during a belt testing for students.
The Kwandrans students and staff worked for several months to raise money for Make-A-Wish. Local residents and businesses were generous with several fund-raisers to help Kwandrans raise the money, Farfaglia said.
Kwandrans decided to raise funds for Make-A-Wish after one of the Tae Kwon-do students, Garett Smith, 12, attended Disney World in Florida for a week with his family last May. The trip was paid through Make-A-Wish Western New York.
Garett has cystic fibrosis. Tae Kwon-do helps move the mucus in his lungs, keeping them clear. He takes Tae Kwon-do classes twice a week. Garett, a Middleport resident, is a seventh-grader at Roy-Hart.
Kwandrans surpassed its $8,500 goal. It was raising the funds so another WNY kid could go on a trip.
Kwandrans put on several fund-raisers, including a kick-a-thon, car wash, bake sale and candy bar sales. They also did a 5-kilometer race, chicken barbecue, spaghetti dinner, and basket raffle.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Provided photo
MEDINA – Don Lepkoske, a former Medina firefighter who is now a resident at the Orchard Manor Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, was surprised on Monday when members of the Medina Fire Department stopped by and presented a new monogrammed jacket.
The Fire Department placed the order for new jackets and wanted to include Lepkoske. After a visit with Lepkoske, firefighters sounded the truck’s siren, leaving Don with big smile.
Pictured, front row, from left: Jeff Tuohey, Don Lepkokse, and Ferdinando Papalia. Back row: Don Marchner, Sergio DiCenso, Mike Sidari, Dell Stork, Captain Jonathan Higgins, and Josh Wolck.
VICTOR – Medina’s Varsity Winterguard took first place against nine other guard units during a Winterguard show on Saturday at Victor Central School.
There were 28 guards performing altogether in eight different classifications, plus one guard in exhibition. Medina’s Winterguard scored 62.21 points to take first in the A1 class. The students performed at a quick pace using flags, rifles and acrobatics.
Medina will next compete March 5 in Lancaster and then Medina has its Home Show on March 12 with both the Varsity and Cadet guards performing. The Medina Home Show, Colorburst 2016, will be in the High School Gym. The doors open at 4 p.m., the show starts at 5 and there are 20 guards performing. The Medina Cadet guard performs at 5:21 and the Varsity guard at 7:40.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – A big crowd of 900 people are participating at the eighth annual Wine About Winter in downtown Medina.
Celebrity Day Spa is one of 30 wine-tasting stops on the event. This picture shows, from left: Brandy McKinney, Day Spa owner Edee Hoffmeister, and Amanda Riggle.
They were giving out gift certificates and coupons, as well as sips of wine. Hoffmeister said the event draws people to the downtown business district, giving them a chance to socialize and see many of the businesses.
Hoffmeister praised the Medina Business Association for its effort in planning and organizing the event.
“They have done a wonderful job with it,” she said.
Some of the commemorative wine glasses are displayed on a table at the start of the wine-tasting.
The 900 people is up from 850 a year ago. Cindy Robinson, the Business Association president, said the event will likely be capped at 900 in the future.
“We’re going to have to limit it because we don’t want long lines and we don’t want to overload the businesses,” she said.
Some of the Wine About Winter participants are lined up on Main Street to sample some of the wines.
Joel Hurlbutt, 23, of Albion and his friend Angela Corloni of Albion are pictured at the English Rose Tea Shoppe in Medina. They said they were impressed by number of family-owned businesses in Medina.
This group of friends and family stayed together on the wine stops. They are inside The Bread Basket. The group includes, from left: Dalton Vercruysse, Erika Myhill, Lisa Wheatley, Lori Myhill, Kirk Myhill, Mary Washak, and Dale Watts.
Paul Schwenk, right, of Schwenk Wine Cellars in Kent pours wine for Jim and Paula Dresser of Medina at A Kut Above.
Mrs. Dresser said the event has become a chance to reconnect with friends and visit Medina’s many shops in the downtown.
Peggy Johnson, one of the co-owners of Kut Above, said the event has proven popular.
“It’s a perfect time of the year,” she said. “In February a lot of people have cabin fever.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Provided photo
MEDINA – Orchard Manor Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Medina took part today in National Wear Red Day.
Orchard Manor residents and staff wore red to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke. Donations made will help fund research and education efforts by the American Heart Association to fight against the nation’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers – heart disease and stroke.
Pictured, include, front row, from left: Jenna Rath, Amy Martin, Dave Denny, Brenda Cherry, Richard Pizzuto and Michelle Clor.
Back Row: Patty DiNardo, Karen Biehl, Laurie Seager, Kari Root, LuAnn Thompson, Lori Sutton, Rose Ann Velesko, Katy Owczarczak, Jamie Murphy and Laura Lechner.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Medina Burger King employees hold a ceremonial check for a fund-raising effort to benefit a school in Haiti. The group includes, from left: Star Graning, general manager Heather Eagle, and Tina Daly.
In December, the Burger King in Medina encouraged customers to donate a dollar to build a school in Haiti. If they donated, customers received coupons.
James Cammilleri owns the Medina Burger, as well as Burger King stores in Le Roy, Hamburg and the Eastview Mall. He encouraged the stores to hold a competition, to see which one could raise the most money. Medina topped the others with the final donation of $6,000. (The check says $3,361, but a final donation pushed the amount to $6,000.)
The funds went to help finish a school in Passerine, Haiti. C.A.R.H.A. (Christian Action Relief for Haiti) provides a school for over 250 children in that community.
“Without this ministry, these kids would not have the opportunity to attend a local school and they also may not have the chance to have some kind of food that day, which the school provides,” Cammilleri said.
He went on a mission trip to the site with his wife Sarah.
“With those funds, we were able to finish the construction of the classrooms and a provide a courtyard for the kids to play in,” he said. “We are also able to construct a real Steel Gate that will provide as an entrance to the school as well as additional security to the premise.”
Heather Eagle, the Burger King general manager in Medina, said customers were happy to contribute to the effort.
“People were in a giving spirit,” she said. “They thought it was a good cause.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 January 2016 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – For years Medina police officers or a village animal control officer have picked up stray dogs and cats in the Village of Medina and maintained a dog pound at the police station.
But the Village Board, feeling the strain of tight budgets in recent years, did away with the part-time animal control officer. Police officers would still pick up animals, and Jose Avila volunteered to maintain a dog pound, feeding the dogs and cleaning kennels and cages for the animals.
Avila retired as police chief a month ago.
Village officials have been trying to work out a deal with the county for animal control services. Village residents pay for the service in their town taxes, Deputy Mayor Mike Sidari said. Dale Stalker, a Shelby town councilman, confirmed that village residents pay in their town taxes for animal control.
Medina and Shelby officials have reached out to the county about picking up animal control services in the village, and Sidari said the county responded it doesn’t have the staff to assume those duties.
Village Trustee Marguerite Sherman said during last week’s Village Board meeting she wants the county to put in writing that it is refusing to provide animal control for the village.
In the meantime, new police chief Chad Kenward said the village should look at hiring a part-time employee to care for animals, walking and feeding dogs, and cleaning the kennel. The police officers can continue to pick up animals in the short-term.
Village Board members said the county should provide the service, picking up animals and taking them to the county animal shelter in Barre at the routes 98 and 31A intersection.
In other action at last week’s meeting:
The Village Board gave Kenward permission to move the chief’s office from the police station upstairs to the second floor of City Hall in the former judge’s chambers. Kenward said that would give him more space and allow the current chief’s office to be used for an interview/interrogation room.
“I can hardly breathe in their right now,” Kenward said about the cramped office.
The board also gave Kenward permission to go ahead with a $3,600 engine repair for one of the police cars.
